Official Cars

Diana Johnson: To ask the Leader of the House how often he has used the Government Car Service in (a) March to September 2012 and (b) September 2012 to March 2013; how many journeys he has made using the Government Car Service in each period; what the (i) staffing and (ii) vehicle cost has been as a result of official car use in those periods; and how many official engagements he has undertaken outside of Westminster in each such period.

Andrew Lansley: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office and under their arrangements I have the shared use of a departmental car.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), of 13 February 2013, Official Report, column 720-21W. The cost of Government cars is published annually and costs for 2012-13 will be published in due course. Details of individual trips are not recorded.
	In the period I have been in post I have undertaken 10 official engagements outside Westminster.

Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of domestic premises which have carbon monoxide alarms fitted.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 23 February 2013, Official Report, column 236W.

Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what reports he has received of whether Cannock Chase District Council has made any payments under the carbon reduction commitment scheme in each of the last five years.

Gregory Barker: The CRC Energy Efficiency scheme, required participants to register for the scheme in 2010, based on their 2008 energy usage (where that exceeded a qualification threshold of 6,000 MWh). Cannock Chase district council (CCDC) did not register for the CRC Energy Efficiency scheme.
	A list of those that have reported and paid for allowances for 2011-12 (the first year allowances were brought) is available on the Environment Agency website at:
	http://crc.environment-agency.gov.uk/pplt/web/plt/public/2011-12/CRCPerformanceLeagueTable20112012

Coal

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department plans to take to safeguard critical mass in the British coal industry.

John Hayes: Coal generation currently provides around a third of our electricity supplies, with British mines contributing around 40% of feedstock to our coal-fired power stations in 2012.
	Coal power stations, equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS), can continue to play a significant role as part of a future low carbon energy mix. The Government has put in place a comprehensive programme of measures to bring forward a cost competitive CCS industry including a £1 billion commercialisation programme, £125 million for research and development and reform to the electricity market.
	The Government values the role of British coal in meeting our energy needs. It meets regularly with representatives of the coal industry and its customers, and discussions include the need for investor confidence in a continuing market for British coal to sustain the industry.
	The Department's current work with UK Coal Operations Ltd in the light of the recent underground fire at Daw Mill demonstrates our interest in the ongoing contribution coal can make to meeting current energy needs.

Energy Companies Obligation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how many households have had heating, draught proofing or cavity wall measures installed through the affordable warmth element of the Energy Company Obligation in (a) January and (b) February 2013;
	(2)  how many households have had heating, draught proofing or cavity wall measures installed through the Energy Company Obligation in (a) January 2013 and (b) February 2013;
	(3)  how many households in (a) total, (b) the private rented sector and (c) the owner-occupier sector had energy efficiency measures installed through the Energy Company Obligation in (i) January 2013 and (ii) February 2013;
	(4)  how many households in hard-to-treat housing had energy efficiency measures installed through the Energy Company Obligation in (a) January 2013 and (b) February 2013.

Gregory Barker: The Department will release the first official statistics on the number of measures installed through the Energy Company Obligation, the detail of breakdowns to be decided, in June 2013.

Wind Power

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to requiring a decommissioning bond to be attached to all wind farm applications before any application is considered.

Gregory Barker: Onshore, wind farm developers make decommissioning arrangements with the relevant local planning authorities and other parties who have a particular interest, for example, the landowner. Decommissioning conditions are applied to onshore wind farm planning permissions to ensure restoration of the site to the satisfaction of the local authority once the planning permission lifetime has expired. It is common practice for developers to enter into agreements pursuant to section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure funds are available for such decommissioning work.
	Offshore, the statutory decommissioning scheme for renewable energy installations provides security that their removal can be undertaken by developers. Under sections 105 to 114 of the Energy Act 2004, the Secretary of State may require a person who is responsible for one of these installations to submit (and eventually carry out) a decommissioning programme for them, and to submit details of the security they propose to provide with their decommissioning programme.
	Both of these regimes provide for the use of bonds if appropriate in the circumstances. The Government considers that these arrangements are sufficient to ensure that suitable decommissioning provisions are in place and so does not feel that requiring a bond at the point of application is necessary.

Birmingham City University

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to limit the negative effects of the loss of Birmingham City University's City North campus to Birmingham Perry Barr constituency and businesses in that area.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Higher education institutions are independent and autonomous. It is for them to decide how they manage their assets and deliver learning to meet the needs of their students. The plan for the relocation of teaching facilities at Birmingham City University's North campus is a matter for the institution's governing body. Government cannot intervene in these decisions.

Car Tax

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2013, Official Report, column 772W, on car tax, when the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency advice was revised; and if he will publish the revised advice.

Stephen Hammond: The advice that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency provides to the parent or carer of a disabled person who has passed away was revised on 6 February 2013. Officials now advise that no enforcement action will be taken within a reasonable period. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is considering how to communicate this revised guidance more widely.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's calculation is of the cost per mile of the building of phase two of High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: As detailed in the January 2013 Command Paper “High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain's Future—Phase Two: The route to Leeds, Manchester and beyond”, the Government's initial preferred route, station and depot options for Phase Two are now estimated at around £16.8 billion, without the spur to Heathrow. This includes allowances for risk and optimism bias.
	The length of the Western Leg of Phase 2 is 95 miles, and the Eastern Leg, 116 miles.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the processes being followed on High Speed 2 comply with section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 on the protection of areas of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: As set out in the response to the 2011 consultation, ‘High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain's Future—Decisions and Next Steps’ the Government considers that HS2 is consistent with section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with HS2 Limited about the Chilterns Tunnel Alternative Report produced by Peter Bretts Associates; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: HS2 Ltd and the Department have regular discussions on the developing design for HS2 Phase One. Officials in my Department are aware of the contents of the report and the discussions that HS2 Ltd have had with the Chilterns Ridges Action Group.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what additional budget has been allocated to HS2 Limited to support changes to the High Speed 2 Phase One design specification since January 2012; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what additional budget has been allocated to HS2 Limited to support mitigation proposals for High Speed 2 Phase One since January 2012; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether the total cost of the High Speed 2 Phase One preferred line of route has increased in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The previous Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), published estimated costs for Phase One at the time of announcing her decision to proceed with HS2, in January 2012. These were early stage estimates, and HS2 Ltd are continuing to refine designs in more detail to take account of site survey and other locally-specific issues as well as developing thinking on how future services and systems will operate.
	Cost estimates are continuing to evolve as a consequence of this work, and the Department is working closely with HS2 Ltd to ensure that robust cost controls are in place throughout this process.
	Overall cost estimates will be updated to inform the Estimate of Expense deposited with the hybrid Bill later in 2013.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the High Speed 2 Phase One environmental impact assessment consultation complies with the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department and HS2 Ltd have recognised and actively considered the requirements set out in the Aarhus Convention and how they apply to HS2 as part of their work programme for the environmental statement and the hybrid Bill.

Roads: East Sussex

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2013, Official Report, column 247W, on roads: East Sussex, if he will (a) publish and (b) place in the Library a copy of the documents relating to funding for the Bexhill Hastings Link Road and alternative transport measures, without any redaction of content under the headings of (i) recommendations, (ii) timing and (iii) emerging options sent to Ministers in his Department on 14 March 2012 and 19 March 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Information Commissioner's Office is currently considering an appeal against the redactions in the published versions of the documents dated 14 March and 19 March 2012 to which the hon. Member refers, and we await their findings.
	The Department took the decision to withhold the information as it falls under the exception in Regulation 12(4)(e) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, because it involves the disclosure of internal communications relating to the formulation or development of government policy and government decision making. In applying this exception the Department had to balance the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosure.
	The Department gave regard to the Regulations and to wider government policy and guidance—including the Ministry of Justice “working assumption” that information presented to Ministers as policy advice, recommendations, suggested options, and opinions should not be disclosed. The Department concluded that the factors above outweigh the benefits of disclosure and that it would not be in the public interest to release the information as it would seriously impact on the decision and policy making process in relation to the ongoing issue of funding this scheme and, more widely, other transport schemes.

Roads: Safety

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department is co-operating with the Department for Education to promote road safety in schools.

Stephen Hammond: The THINK! road safety campaign provides a range of resources to enable teachers to deliver road safety education to children and teenagers in schools. These include lesson plans, printed materials and interactive games.
	To improve on this, a school engagement strategy is under development and the THINK! team will be consulting with the Department for Education to ensure a co-ordinated, cost-effective and impactful strategy is delivered.
	In the first phase of the work the THINK! team has engaged with organisations such as the National Union of Teachers and the National Governors Association to understand factors that impact on road safety education in schools including time, resources, IT facilities and current use of THINK! materials.
	All of this information will be used to help develop more effective road safety resources for use by key partners such as teachers, school group leaders and road safety officers and ensure that effective road safety messages are delivered to young people.
	This stakeholder activity will launch in the early summer.

Shipping: Registration

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the number of vessels which might flag out if the Maritime Labour Convention is not ratified by the UK.

Stephen Hammond: The Department has not made an assessment because we are committed to taking forward all the legal provisions necessary to allow the UK to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. We expect to ratify the convention in August 2013.

Shipping: Registration

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Department for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding the timetable for UK ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention; and when he next intends to hold such discussions.

Stephen Hammond: Ministers from all three Departments are engaged with the processes that are associated with the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, and will continue to be so.

Pornography: Internet

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will require internet service providers to introduce a default opt-in filter system for access to adult content on the internet.

Hugh Robertson: The Government has, in its response to the Department for Education's consultation on internet parental controls published in December last year, asked all internet service providers to actively encourage people to switch on parental controls if children are in the household and will be using the internet. “Actively encourage” means making the decision of whether to set up parental controls is an unavoidable step for parents.
	In addition, the Government has asked that internet service providers put in place appropriate measures to check that the person setting controls is over the age of 18 and is pressing for all of the information and communications technology (ICT) industries, including retailers and device manufacturers, to work together to develop universally-available, family-friendly internet access which is easy to use.

Public Libraries: Internet

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries currently provide free internet access; and if she will publish a map showing all the public libraries that currently provide such access.

Hugh Robertson: The number of public libraries currently providing free internet access is not held centrally, as it is a matter for individual authorities. The Universal Offers initiative launched, in January this year by the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL), commented that most public libraries provide digital access for the community and have done so for some time. The SCL initiative, developed in partnership with Arts Council England and The Reading Agency defines, as part of the Universal Digital Offer, the minimum that a public library authority should provide and that customers should expect from their public library. This includes free access to the Internet for every customer (for a minimum period of time).

Organised Crime

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have met the Northern Ireland Justice Minister to discuss (i) the proposed national crime agency and (ii) asset recovery in the last six months.

Theresa Villiers: In the last six months the Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), and I met regularly with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister to discuss a range of issues, including the proposed national crime agency and asset recovery and continue to do so.

Employment

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the rate of employment growth in the UK.

Damian Collins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the rate of employment growth in the UK.

Sajid Javid: The latest figures show the largest annual increase in employment since 1989, employment is now at its highest ever level of 29.7 million. Furthermore, over 2012 full-time employment increased by 394,000 and this is the largest increase since 2005. This means that employment is now over 300,000 higher than the OBR forecast in their June 2010 Economic and fiscal outlook, with a net 1.1 million jobs created in the private sector since 2010 Q1.

Tax Gap

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to close the tax gap.

David Gauke: The Government has invested nearly £1 billion in strengthening HM Revenue and Customs' response to evasion and avoidance, and HMRC is on course to bring in nearly £22 billion of additional tax by the end of this Parliament. HMRC is increasing the number of staff working on compliance and using innovative approaches to improve how it identifies and tackles evasion. We will soon introduce the UK's first General Anti-Abuse Rule, and HMRC will consult further on new information powers and penalties to target high-risk promoters.

National Infrastructure Plan

Geraint Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress has been made on implementing the national infrastructure plan.

Danny Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Nick Smith).

Bank Services

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of personal current account customers who will currently be unable to switch in seven days in September due to their bank's non-participation.

Sajid Javid: The current account 7-day switching service is being delivered by the Payments Council on behalf of industry.
	The Payments Council estimate that 99% of all UK personal current accounts will be covered by the new service.

Banks

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government is taking to review banking sector infrastructure.

Danny Alexander: HM Treasury works with the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority to ensure the resilience of critical financial infrastructure, and produces an annual Finance Sector Resilience Plan. An unclassified version is published each year on the Cabinet Office website. This is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/62312/Summary-2012-Sector-Resilience-Plans.pdf
	As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in February, the Government also intends to bring payment systems—the critical infrastructure that ensures payments are able to move around the banking system—into regulation. An HM Treasury consultation on this will be released shortly.

Housing: Construction

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to tax changes to facilitate development on undeveloped residential housing sites with historic planning permission; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: The Government has no intention to introduce tax changes to facilitate development on undeveloped residential housing sites with historic planning permission. The Government is instead focusing on other more effective measures to address stalled sites such as renegotiation of unviable section 106 affordable housing agreements.

UK Membership of EU

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net cost to the UK of membership of the EU over the lifetime of this Parliament.

Greg Clark: Figures for the UK's net contribution to the EU over the period 2005-06 to 2011-12 were published in Table 3c (page 17) of “European Union Finances 2012” (Cm 8405), a copy of which can be found in the House Library, also available online at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/eu_finances_2012.pdf
	Forecasts of contributions to the EU were published by the OBR on 5 December 2012. This can be found in table 2.19 of “Economic and Fiscal Outlook Supplementary Tables” at:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-december-2012/
	The OBR will update its forecasts at the time of Budget 2013.

Unemployment: Young People

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2013, Official Report, column 197W, on unemployment: young people, how many young people have been supported by the Youth Contract in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Birmingham to date.

Mark Hoban: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The Youth Contract has a number of elements; the Department for Work and Pensions delivers some, but not all, of these elements.
	Statistics on work experience and sector based work academies are available at the following link. These programmes were in place before the introduction of the Youth Contract. Statistics on these elements of the Youth Contract are included within this published data, which includes breakdowns such as age group or region.
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/pwp_gbw_feb13.pdf
	In most cases the wage incentive element of the Youth Contract is paid after a young person has been in work continuously for 26 weeks. Following the collection and quality assurance of this data, the first set of Official Statistics on the wage incentive should be available in the next few months.
	The Youth Contract also includes additional advisor support for young people. There will be no official statistics on this element.
	The support for 16 to 17-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) element of the Youth Contract is owned by the Department for Education.
	The Apprenticeship Grants for Employers (AGE 16-24) element of the Youth Contract is owned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

VAT: Energy

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the amount of additional revenue that would be received by the Exchequer if the rate of VAT on energy saving materials was increased to 20 per cent;
	(2)  how much the Exchequer received in VAT receipts from purchases of energy saving materials in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

David Gauke: VAT is charged at the reduced rate of 5% on the supply and installation of certain energy-saving materials when they are installed as a stand-alone project. Where these are installed as part of a wider building project, both supply and installation is standard rated for VAT.
	HM Revenue and Customs publishes estimates of the cost of tax allowances and reliefs to the Exchequer in the table at the following address.
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/expenditures/table-b1.pdf
	The table shows that removing the existing reduced rate for the supply and installation of energy savings materials for qualifying projects would generate approximately £20 million additional revenue per year (excluding allowances for behavioural effects).
	The information on VAT receipts from total purchases of energy saving materials is not available. However, an estimate of VAT receipts from energy saving materials subject to the reduced rate can be inferred using the information in the table above at around £5 million per annum for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

VAT: Tourism

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the value of lowering VAT for businesses involved in UK tourism.

David Gauke: The Treasury has worked closely with industry representatives to consider the impact of a VAT cut for the tourism sector on growth and jobs. The conclusion the Government has reached is that a VAT cut would not produce sufficient economic growth to outweigh the revenue shortfall. A VAT cut for this sector would therefore need to be funded either by additional borrowing or by raising other taxes, both of which are likely to have a negative effect on the economy. The Government therefore has no plans to introduce a VAT cut for this sector.

Academies

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many sponsor-led academy schools were judged (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) satisfactory and (d) inadequate by Ofsted in each year since 2008, broken down by academy sponsor.

David Laws: holding answer 25 February 2013
	This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, wrote to the hon. Member on 14 February. A copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.

Children: Poverty

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of three to five-year-olds were living in (a) workless households and (b) relative poverty in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The requested information for part (a) is produced by the Office for National Statistics and part (b) is produced by the Department for Work and Pensions.
	(a) The number of children aged three to five living in workless households in the UK is estimated at 17.4% (413,000 children) for the period of April to June 2012, this is the latest period for which data is available. This data has been sourced from the Labour Force Survey and defines a workless household as a household that includes at least one person aged 16 to 64 where no-one aged 16 or over is in employment.
	(b) Table 1 following shows the number and proportion of three to five-year-olds living in relative poverty on a Before Housing Costs basis in the UK for 2010-11, the latest period for which figures are available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number and proportion of three to five-year-olds living in relative poverty, on a Before Housing Costs basis, United Kingdom, 2010-11 
			  Number (million) Proportion (%) 
			 Three to five-year-olds 0.4 16 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the 2010-11 Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. Figures have been presented on a Before Housing Cost basis, in line with the relative child poverty target set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010. For Before Housing Costs, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, buildings insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 6. Numbers of children have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 children. 7. Proportions of children in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. 8. Statistics covering 2010-11 are the most recent available. 9. Relative poverty is defined as being in a household with a household income of less than 60% of contemporary median income. Source: FRS 2010-11 
		
	
	Further information can be found in the Households Below Average Income series published at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/hbai/hbai2011/index.php?page=contents
	The 2011-12 edition of Households Below Average Income is due to be published by the Department of Work and Pensions in May/June 2013.
	Income matters but considering this in isolation fails to properly reflect the reality of child poverty in the UK today. We want to develop better measures of child poverty which include income but provide a more accurate picture of the reality of child poverty. Our consultation on how best to measure child poverty closed on 15 February. A large volume of responses was received and all of these are being read and analysed to ensure that all important points are captured and used to help Ministers decide on the next steps.

Curriculum

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason there is a break between his Department's consultation on the curriculum for key stages 3 and 4 and consideration of the programmes of study at key stage 4.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 4 March 2013
	We are not consulting formally on the draft key stage 4 programmes of study for English, mathematics and science as part of the current statutory consultation because we believe that it is important to consider the content of these programmes of study alongside the new requirements for the subject content of the reformed GCSE qualifications in these subjects. This will ensure that the curriculum and qualifications are fully coherent. We will, therefore, provide further details of the reformed GCSEs later this year and launch the statutory consultation on key stage 4 programmes of study for English, mathematics and science once that information is in the public domain.
	We have, however, published these drafts alongside this consultation for illustrative purposes and respondents are can provide comments on them if they wish.

GCE AS-level

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  which universities use AS levels as a means of assessing applicant potential for the purposes of admission decisions;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed establishment of AS levels as a stand-alone qualification on universities' ability to consider applicant potential.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 1 March 2013
	We know that universities use a range of information and evidence about applicants for admissions purposes. Even within individual universities, there may be a variety of approaches between subjects. Changes to the AS and A levels mean that some universities may need to make changes to admissions processes. However, Ofqual's consultation on A level reform found that for many universities, the removal of AS would not have a major impact on selection processes.

Anti-social Behaviour Bill (Draft)

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions Ministers in her Department have had with local authorities on the draft Anti-social Behaviour Bill and the intention in that Bill to repeal dog control orders.

Jeremy Browne: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of individuals and organisations as part of the process of policy development and details of these are published quarterly on the Cabinet Office website. We have consulted extensively on our antisocial behaviour reforms, and local authorities have played a crucial role in shaping the draft Bill, including the Community Protection Order (Public Space) which will replace dog control orders.

British Nationality

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2013, Official Report, column 788W, on British nationality, which of the litigations relating to Mahdi Hashi are within the jurisdiction of the British courts.

Mark Harper: Within the jurisdiction of the British courts Mr Hashi has lodged an appeal with the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

Children: Abuse

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of her Department's budget was allocated to tackling child abuse and the viewing of images of child abuse online in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is the UK's national law enforcement agency committed to preventing and tackling ,the sexual abuse of children in both the online and offline environments with the principal aim of identifying, locating and safeguarding children and young people from threat, harm and risk.
	Over the past five years, the Government has provided funding for the Centre of:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2008-09 6.27 
			 2009-10 6.353 
			 2010-11 6.44 
			 2011-12 6.38 
			 2012-13 6.381 
		
	
	CEOP also has other sources of funding available to it, in addition to its Government funding. Close partnership working with, among others, the private and voluntary sectors is key to its success.
	In addition, chief constables and police and crime commissioners have their normal policing budget which they are able to use on the priorities for their forces. Any decision on funding or staffing for child protection activity is a matter for the chief constables and police and crime commissioners for their area.

Civil Liberties

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to ensure that respect for civil liberties is considered at each stage of her Department's policy-making process.

James Brokenshire: Since 2010, this Government has taken a number of important steps to meet our strong commitment to protect the hard won civil liberties of UK citizens, including passing the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
	Respect for civil liberties is clearly a very important consideration during policy development in this department, an issue which will also be explored during any public consultation or the passage of any policy proposals through Parliament.

Communications Data Bill (Draft)

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what organisations or individuals she has met to discuss revisions of the draft Communications Data Bill.

James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a variety of organisations and individuals, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are published on the Cabinet Office website on a quarterly basis.

Customs: Drugs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much illegal medication has been confiscated at UK borders in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: Border Force does not specifically record seizures of illegal medication. These are included, depending on the drug class, within other class A/B/C seizures as published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin ‘Seizures of Drugs in England and Wales’ which is accompanied by a Border Force publication covering drugs seizures within the UK. The Home Office bulletin is a yearly publication which covers the last 10 years and the Border Force figures, which are published on a quarterly basis, cover 2011-12 onwards.
	Border Force figures
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/drug-seizures/
	Home Office statistics
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb1212/hosb1212?view=Binary
	Border Forces does not hold specific data on seizures of counterfeit medicines.

Deportation: Offenders

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many offenders who are European economic area nationals were subject to removal from the UK in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(2)  how many offenders who are European economic area nationals were subject to removal from the UK after serving custodial sentences of less than 24 months in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Mark Harper: The following table shows the number of offenders who are European economic area nationals who were removed from the UK in (a) 2010, (b)2011 and (c) 2012. The data for 2012 are correct as at 31 December 2012.
	
		
			 Calendar year Total number of EEA foreign nationals who were subject to removal from the UK. 
			 2010 933 
			 2011 1,148 
			 2012 1,559 
		
	
	The data in the following table shows the number of offenders who are European economic area nationals who were removed from the UK after serving custodial sentences of less than 24 months in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. The data for 2012 are correct as at 31 December 2012.
	
		
			 Calendar year Total number of EEA foreign nationals subject to removal from the UK after serving sentence of less than 24 months 
			 2010 409 
			 2011 542 
			 2012 798 
		
	
	Please note that this is internal management information and is subject to change.

Detica

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many BAE Systems Detica staff (a) are currently working on and (b) have previously worked on the Communications Capability Development Programme.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 11 March 2013
	The Communications Capabilities Development programme currently has a number of Detica (BAE Systems Detica) personnel deployed on the programme through the Client-side Support Services contract, over the lifetime of the contract the number of personnel deployed has varied, responding to business need.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2013, Official Report, column 12W, on entry clearances: overseas students, 
	(1)  what the estimated completion date for the detailed planning that is being undertaken to assess the costs of the interviewing programme is; and what additional resources will be required;
	(2)  whether the out-of-country student visa interviews will be carried out entirely by UK Border Agency staff.

Mark Harper: Planning for the overseas interviewing programme is progressing well, including working through the costs and resource requirements. The staffing model for the programme will be confirmed in due course.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of other EU member states who are classified as qualified persons under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (a) have and (b) do not have comprehensive sickness insurance cover in the UK; and how many such nationals (i) have and (ii) do not have sufficient resources not to become a burden on the social assistance system of the UK.

Mark Harper: holding answer 25 February 2013
	The UK does not operate a system of mandatory registration for EU nationals, though many EU nationals choose to apply to the UK Border Agency for documentation to evidence their rights.
	The UK Border Agency has strict checks in place to ensure that those EU nationals who apply for registration documentation meet the requirements set out in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006, including where appropriate the requirement to hold comprehensive sickness insurance.
	For those who do choose to make an application, the data requested is not recorded centrally and the cost required to answer this would be disproportionate.
	Tackling the abuse of free movement rights and reducing the pull factors, which attract migrants to the UK are priorities for the Home Office. As part of this work, I am chairing a cross-Government group of Ministers to examine controls on immigrants' access to benefits and public services.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to (a) reduce the number of managed investigations and (b) increase the number of independent investigations undertaken by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Damian Green: Responsibility for determining the mode of investigation in each individual case dealt with by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) lies with the IPCC. However, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), made clear to the House on 12 February 2013, Official Report, columns 713-14, that the Government intends to transfer resources from individual forces' professional standards departments and other relevant areas to the IPCC in order to ensure that it has the budget and the manpower that will enable it to do its work.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply from the Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency to his letter of 4 February 2013, CTS ref B3732/13.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member on 8 March 2013.

Olaseni Lewis

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the Independent Police Complaints Commission to complete its review into the case of Olaseni Lewis who died in September 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The time scale for completion of this review is an operational matter for the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Seahorses: Smuggling

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seahorses have been confiscated at UK borders in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: Border Force does not specifically record the number of seahorses seized at the border but groups them within: live animals and birds; parts and derivatives of endangered species; or in preparations of traditional medicines that include parts or derivatives of endangered species. The most recent published data on seizures, which was made available to the Environmental Audit Committee on Wildlife Crime, is as follows:
	
		
			 2008-09 
			  Number of seizures Number of items seized Weight of items seized (kg) 
			 Live animals and birds 37 1,212 n/a 
			 Parts and derivatives of endangered species 109 1,536 543 
			 Preparations of traditional medicines that include parts or derivatives of endangered species 63 4,435 309.3 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 
			  Number of seizures Number of items seized Weight of items seized (kg) 
			 Live animals and birds 21 563 n/a 
			 Parts and derivatives of animals or birds 99 509 20,002.8 
			 Preparations of traditional medicines that include parts or derivatives of endangered species 119 812,117 1,141 
		
	
	
		
			 2010-11 
			  Number of seizures Number of items seized Weight of items seized (kg) 
			 Live animals and birds 8 1,620 n/a 
			 Parts and derivatives of animals or birds 94 2,634 6.1 
			 Preparations of traditional medicines that include parts or derivatives of endangered species 173 32,239 519.3 
		
	
	The figures and the transcript of the Committee hearing can be found at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvaud/140/140.pdf

UK Border Agency

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (a) what casework decisions are taken by and (b) what training is given to persons appointed as (i) administration officers and (ii) executive officers on temporary contracts within the UK Border Agency. [R]

Mark Harper: Temporary caseworkers are in place in several locations across the UK Border Agency and deal with applications for: settlement; leave to remain in the Family Route; Accession casework (Bulgaria and Romania); and in Tiers 1, 2 and 5 of the Points Based System.
	Initial training for both Administrative Officers and Executive Officers covers the immigration rules relevant to their assigned route and familiarisation with the relevant policy. This portion of the training lasts between two days and one week dependant on route and applies to both grades The subsequent mentoring period of between six to eight weeks consolidates the classroom training and also includes practical case processing functions.
	Staff complete a number of mandatory courses which are delivered by e-learning. These include Health and Safety, Information Storage and Management and Training in the Safeguarding of Children.

Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 February 2013, Official Report, on tackling irresponsible dog ownership, 
	(1)  if he will discuss with his counterparts in the devolved administrations the potential for a UK-wide microchipping database;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of potential difficulties arising from cross-border issues in operating an England-only microchipping database;
	(3)  with regard to the one-stop 24 hour enquiry point for microchipped lost and found dogs (a) when this will be operational, (b) who the service will be operated by and (c) who will finance the service.

David Heath: There are no plans to introduce a single England or United Kingdom wide database which would be costly to set up. The four existing databases, that operate oh a United Kingdom wide basis, will continue to be used. DEFRA is now working with database providers to ensure minimum standards of service for commercial databases, including a one-stop 24 hour inquiry point (web portal) for lost and found microchipped dogs. Discussions are ongoing and progress is being made by the existing databases to facilitate this service and further details should be finalised later this year. Cross border issues within the United Kingdom are being considered with the devolved Administrations.

Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 February 2013, Official Report, on tackling irresponsible dog ownership, 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the proportion of dogs which are currently microchipped;
	(2)  what level of microchipping would constitute a high compliance rate.

David Heath: This information is set out in the draft impact assessment published in April 2012. It is estimated that 58% of dogs in England are currently microchipped with the preferred option leading to 80% of currently un-microchipped dogs becoming microchipped. The Government, working with animal welfare charities and others, is making the provision of microchipping as simple and cheap as possible. In addition, any owners of dogs that are brought to the attention of the authorities and that are not microchipped after April 2016 will be reminded about the law and that the cost of microchipping is cheaper than paying a fine.

Burma

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the government of Burma spent on aid to internally displaced people in Karen State in 2012.

Alan Duncan: Neither Her Majesty's Government nor the United Nations currently hold this information; the level of published data on Government expenditure in Burma is limited.

Palestinians

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government is deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Access to water and land in Area C of the West Bank is restricted, causing loss of livelihoods and high levels of food insecurity. The Palestinian Authority is unable to deliver basic education and health care services. The situation in Gaza is also unsustainable. 44% of Gazans are food insecure and over 90% of the water from the Gaza aquifer is unsafe for human consumption without treatment.

Afghanistan

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service training teams are currently in Afghanistan; where any such teams are based; and what their tasks are.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested for the whole of Afghanistan or the International Security Assistance Force is not held centrally by the Ministry of Defence. Data provided is for the Task Force Helmand area of operations which includes the majority of UK forces deployed to Afghanistan.
	Task Force Helmand has six Police advisory teams involved in the development of the Afghan National Police (ANP). Four of these teams are based in Lashkar Gah, one in Shawqat and one in Gereshk. These teams assist the ANP in their training and use of enablers.
	Task Force Helmand currently has five Brigade advisory teams who work with the Afghan National Army to support the transition of lead security responsibility. Three of these teams are based at Main Operating Base Price, one at Forward Operating Base Sparta and one at Forward Operating Base Shawqat.
	There is also one Brigade advisory team based outside of Task Force Helmand's are of operation in Camp Shorabak next to Camp Bastion. These teams are formed advisory teams; a wide range of other units and individuals provide partnering, advice and support to Afghan forces, in Helmand and elsewhere; for example, personnel assisting the training of the Afghan Air Force.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department has collected in the last 10 years on the fitness levels and educational attainment of young people wishing to join the armed forces; what assessment he has made of that information; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The services have collected information on fitness levels over the last seven years and on educational qualifications over the past 10 years as part of the eligibility criteria for joining the armed forces. While the required fitness level is broadly similar across the services, each specialisation has its own educational criteria, ranging from nil to professionally qualified, as a pre-requisite for joining a given branch or trade.
	The data collected on fitness levels and educational attainment is used for the specific purpose of confirming an individual's eligibility for service.

Ultra Electronics

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many items of correspondence have been sent between his Department and representatives of Ultra Electronics Holdings plc in the last two years;
	(2)  what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers of his Department have had with Mr Douglas Caster, Chairman of Ultra Electronics Holdings plc, since May 2010.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence currently has 44 contracts with Ultra Electronics Holdings plc. Officials regularly correspond with representatives of the company on a wide range of issues. Records of correspondence are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Ministers meet defence contractors to discuss a wide range of issues. Details of all ministerial meetings with external organisations, including companies, are published in the Ministry of Defence Transparency returns. Information can be found at the following address:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings
	Since May 2010, there have been three meetings between Ministers and Ultra Electronics; these are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Date Minister Purpose of meeting 
			 July 2010 Gerald Howarth MP Introductory meeting 
			 November 2010 Peter Luff MP Introductory meeting 
			 October 2012 Philip Dunne MP Introductory meeting 
		
	
	In addition I have met representatives of Ultra Electronics at defence exhibitions in Bangalore (India) and in Abu Dhabi in February 2013.
	There have been no meetings between special advisers and Mr Douglas Caster since May 2010. Information about meetings that officials have had with Mr Caster since May 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure the Afghan government remains committed to equal rights for males and females.

Alistair Burt: Afghanistan's Constitution makes clear that men and women have equal rights. The Afghan Government made a series of public commitments at the Tokyo Conference in July 2012, including to ensure the human rights of all Afghan citizens, including women, are promoted and protected as enshrined in their constitution. We, along with our international partners, will hold the Afghan Government to account for the commitments they have made and to implement the human rights obligations that it has committed to, including implementation of the Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
	We regularly raise respect for women's rights and the protection of women's security with the Afghan Government. Women's rights were a key priority during the visit to Afghanistan on 4-6 March this year by the Senior Minister of State, my noble and right hon. Friend the Baroness Warsi. She met Government and civil society representatives to discuss women's issues and raised this issue with the Afghanistan Foreign Minister.

Burma

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which projects are being funded or otherwise supported by his Department in relation to capacity building for the government of Burma.

Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not currently fund directly any projects which build the capacity of the Government of Burma. Our embassy in Rangoon funds a number of projects through its bilateral programme budget. Two of these projects provided funding to non-governmental organisations to support Burma's peace process, and included capacity-building elements to Government, opposition, civil society and ethnic groups by sharing experiences of peace processes.
	The majority of the projects funded by our bilateral programme budget aim to build the capacity of civil society groups in areas such as human rights, peace processes, interfaith dialogue, advocacy for disability rights, revenue transparency and responsible investment, labour rights and conservation.
	The British Government, through the Department of International Development, has made the largest bilateral commitment of aid to Burma—allocating £187 million for development from 2011-15. This includes capacity-building support to Government and non-government institutions through trusted expert organisations to support reform in Burma. This capacity-building also includes support to Burma's Parliament; for example, the visit of three Burmese MPs to the UK in December 2012 to learn about parliamentary process and legislative drafting.

Burma

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the links between elected officials in the Burmese national and regional parliaments and the illegal drugs trade in that country.

Hugo Swire: We are aware of media and non-governmental organisation reports which have linked elected officials in the Burmese national and regional parliaments and the illegal drugs trade.
	The illegal drugs trade in Burma is of serious concern. The British Government is actively looking for opportunities to engage with Burmese law enforcement authorities to tackle the trade of illicit drugs in Burma.

Maldives

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in the Maldives and the arrest of former President Nasheed.

Alistair Burt: The Government has ongoing concerns about human rights issues in Maldives, including on freedom of religion, rule of law, and women's rights. We are also concerned about allegations of police brutality, physical and political intimidation of parliamentarians, and arrests which appear to be politically motivated. Officials at our high commission in Colombo, which is also accredited to Maldives, regularly discuss our concerns with the Maldivian Government. During my visit to Maldives last month, I raised with the Maldivian Government the importance of fully investigating all allegations of police brutality, and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.
	We will continue to encourage the Maldivian Government to comply with their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, and to take the necessary measures to protect individuals, Our high commissioner to Maldives will continue to raise these concerns in his regular dialogue with the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
	The British Government is watching events closely following the recent arrest and detention of former President Nasheed in Maldives. Immediately after the arrest the UK high commissioner made urgent representations to the Maldivian Government, calling on them to ensure due process was followed, and that proceedings were fair and transparent. The former President has now been released following his hearing, and we understand that his trial has been postponed for four weeks. We urge all parties to remain calm and to act responsibly. We have made it clear to the Maldivian authorities that no harm must be orientated towards the former President.

Yemen

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Yemeni Government on juvenile offenders sentenced to the death penalty in that country.

Alistair Burt: I am deeply concerned by reports of the use of the death penalty against juveniles in Yemen, and in particular was appalled to hear of the execution of the alleged juvenile Hind al-Barti on 3 December. Our ambassador to Yemen has lobbied the Yemeni Government at the highest levels on this issue, most recently in February. Together with the EU we continue to urge the Yemeni Government to honour its obligations under international treaties and immediately cease the execution of juveniles in Yemen.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the UK's concerns about the use of the death penalty in Yemen with Dr al-Qirbi, the Yemeni Foreign Minister, on 7 March.

Exports

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Bank of England's Inflation Report February 2013, pages 24 and 25, if he will take steps to address the disappointing export performance referred to in that report; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: This Government recognises that trade is essential if we are to achieve sustainable, balanced growth in the UK economy. The Government's strategy for trade and investment is set out in Trade and Investment for Growth White Paper, published in February 2011. The National Export Challenge, launched in November 2011, set an ambitious target to get an extra 100,000 companies exporting by 2020. Towards this, funding has increased to UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to enable it to double the number of small and medium-sized firms it supports, to 50,000 by 2015. Our industrial strategy sets out a long-term approach to supporting business, including building export capacity in key sectors of the economy.
	Economic research has consistently shown that productivity is the primary driver of export performance. BIS has a comprehensive policy agenda to support UK business in driving up UK productivity. Key strands include support for innovation through the Technology Strategy Board and support through UKTI to help individual UK businesses and sectors overcome barriers to exporting and entering new markets.
	The Government is also encouraging ambitious trade negotiations. Deep and comprehensive trade agreements will significantly increase the opportunities for UK exporters. The EU Commission has estimated that extra-EU exports could grow by around 6% as a result of the EU's ongoing and potential free trade agreements.

Fossil Fuels: Reserves

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has the power to enforce an obligation for companies to disclose data on fossil fuel reserves under the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

Jo Swinson: The Companies Act 2006 provides powers for the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), to determine what information companies must disclose in their directors' report. There is no obligation for companies to disclose data on fossil fuel reserves.

Seeds: Patents

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings, discussions and correspondence his Department has had with the World Trade Organisation regarding patented seeds since June 2010.

Jo Swinson: The only UK engagement in this area with the WTO is via our participation in the World Trade Organisation's Council on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), at which the topic of intellectual property and biodiversity features regularly on the agenda. This covers plant varieties as part of the ongoing review of Article 27.3(b) of the TRIPS Agreement, which provides for the protection of plant varieties either by patents or by a “sui generic” system. Further details are available online at:
	http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/art27_3b_background_e.htm

Cancer

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the new national clinical director for cancer will be appointed.

Anna Soubry: It is anticipated that the NHS Commissioning Board will announce the appointment of a new National Clinical Director for Cancer before the end of March 2013.

Care Homes: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many permanent admissions to residential and nursing care homes there were of people over 65 years in (a) Brigg and Poole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many permanent admissions to residential and nursing care homes there were of people between 18 and 65 years in (a) Brigg and Poole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: Data on the number of adults—aged 18 to 64—and older people—aged 65 or over—permanently admitted to local authority-arranged residential and nursing care are collected and published by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.
	Data for Brigg and Goole constituency are not available separately. The Information Centre has provided data for the North Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire local authorities, which include Brigg and Goole constituency, and the Yorkshire and Humber region. This information is shown in the tables.
	Information on admissions to privately funded and arranged residential and nursing care is not collected centrally.
	
		
			 Admissions to residential care 
			 Area Year Age 18 to 64 Age 65 and over 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire local authority 2007-08 25 475 
			  2008-09 30 265 
			  2009-10 45 540 
			  2010-11 25 490 
			  2011-12 25 505 
			     
			 North Lincolnshire local authority 2007-08 15 225 
			  2008-09 10 235 . 
			  2009-10 10 235 
			  2010-11 15 200 
		
	
	
		
			  2011-12 10 190 
			     
			 Yorkshire and Humber region 2007-08 360 4,550 
			  2008-09 375 4,725 
			  2009-10 315 4,805 
			  2010-11 380 4,505 
			  2011-12 355 4,570 
		
	
	
		
			 Admissions to nursing care 
			 Area Year Age 18 to 64 Age 65 and over 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire local authority 2007-08 5 70 
			  2008-09 5 110 
			  2009-10 0 50 
			  2010-11 5 55 
			  2011-12 0 35 
			     
			 North Lincolnshire local authority 2007-08 5 40 
			  2008-09 5 60 
			  2009-10 5 25 
			  2010-11 0 20 
			  2011-12 5 15 
			     
			 Yorkshire and Humber region 2007-08 145 2,035 
			  2008-09 105 1,835 
			  2009-10 105 1,430 
			  2010-11 105 1,445 
			  2011-12 115 1,355 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures include admissions to local authority operated and independent sector homes. 3. Yorkshire and Humber region includes other local authorities in addition to East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NICE-approved rivaroxaban for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism has been prescribed in each primary care trust area in each of the last three years.

Norman Lamb: Information has been placed in the Library.
	A table is provided for each of the last available three financial years 2009-10 through to 2011-12, together with April to September 2012, giving the total number of prescription items dispensed in the community, in England, by primary care trust, for rivaroxaban. The net ingredient cost of these dispensed prescription items is provided in a further table.
	Prescription data does not include the indication for which the medicine has been given. It is therefore not possible to separate out any prescribing for rivaroxaban for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism from any other use such as prevention of stroke and systemic embolism.
	In terms of cost, the main usage of rivaroxaban is in secondary care. In the calendar year 2011 the estimated cost in hospitals in England was £3.4 million. This figure is taken from the Hospital Prescribing 2011 report published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Medicine: Research

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Strategy for UK Life Sciences, for what reason his Department has not brought forward consultation proposals for a new early access scheme to increase the speed and efficiency of routes to market for innovative therapies; and when he expects to bring forward such a consultation.

Norman Lamb: In line with the commitments made in the Strategy for UK Life Sciences, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency launched, in July 2012, a public consultation on the feasibility and desirability of introducing an “early access” scheme in the United Kingdom to make certain new and promising medicines available to patients before they are formally licensed.
	The consultation closed in October 2012 and the responses are being assessed. Discussions are continuing across Government following the consultation and the Government expects to make an announcement as soon as these discussions have concluded.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that the implementation in April 2013 of reforms to civil litigation funding and costs does not have serious negative consequences for access to justice.

Helen Grant: The Government is making fundamental changes to civil litigation funding and costs, including ‘no win no fee’ conditional fee agreements. The reforms come into effect on 1 April 2013.
	The reforms form a balanced package, and include a number of measures which will protect claimants' damages. These include a 10% increase in general damages for non-pecuniary loss such as pain, suffering and loss of amenity and, in personal injury cases, the introduction of qualified one way costs shifting—which will provide protection limiting the costs that a losing claimant may have to pay the other side—and a cap on the amount that the lawyer can charge as a success fee.
	It is important for access to justice that costs are more proportionate.

Personal Independence Payment

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on reducing the qualifying distance used to assess a claimant's eligibility for the mobility component of personal independence payment; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: We have not tightened the criteria in the ‘Moving around’ activity between the second and final drafts of the personal independence payment (PIP) assessment criteria. We had always intended that being unable to walk more than 50 metres should lead to entitlement to some rate of the Mobility component. However under the second draft of the assessment being unable to walk 50 metres did not automatically entitle claimants to the enhanced rate. Within the group who could walk up to 50 metres we wanted those who face the greatest barriers to mobility to receive the enhanced rate and the remainder the standard rate. In the second draft of the assessment criteria we differentiated by the type of aid and appliance an individual needed. In the final version of the criteria we differentiate by distance, which we feel is clearer.
	In the final draft individuals who cannot walk 20 metres can be certain they will receive the enhanced rate, regardless of whether they need an aid or appliance. Individuals who can walk distances longer than 20 metres could still receive the enhanced rate, depending on whether they can do so safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period.
	The Government has now included in regulations that consideration must be given to whether claimants can carry out activities safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period.
	Since publishing the final version of the assessment criteria the Department for Work and Pensions has received a number of representations from hon. Members, members of the public and organisations representing disabled people on this issue.

Social Security Benefits

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the proportion of people able to use the internet who receive (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) employment support allowance, (c) income support, (d) child tax credits, (e) working tax credit and (f) housing benefit.

Mark Hoban: Data is not available on the proportion of internet users in receipt of particular benefits.
	However, the recent DWP research report “Work and the welfare system: a survey of benefits and tax credits recipients” (Tu, T. and Ginnis, S., 2012)(1) assesses what proportion of benefit recipients use the internet and finds the following levels of internet usage by benefit type:
	(1 )http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2011-2012/rrep800.pdf
	
		
			 Benefit Percentage of claimants who use the internet 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 88 
			 Employment support allowance 64 
			 Income support claimants 65 
			 Child tax credit claimants 89 
			 Working tax credit claimants 86 
			 Housing benefit claimants 71 
		
	
	In total, 78% of claimants used the internet, with 48% using it every day. Of those who used the internet, 90% accessed the internet from their own home. (Total claimants includes those claiming carer's allowance, incapacity benefit and council tax benefit as well as above benefits).
	N.B. respondents in this survey were head of benefit units but were responding on behalf of entire benefit unit.

Community Development

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department is working with local authorities and public services to develop community involvement strategies, including a strategy to increase levels of neighbourhood volunteering.

Don Foster: This Government trusts local authorities to develop their own community involvement strategies.
	The new rights in the Localism Act 2011 open up new possibilities for local authorities and communities to work together to improve their local area. How this is done will depend on each area, and the issues the community wants to address.
	Government recognises some local authorities and communities may want help to use the new rights and we are providing over £40 million of support. Further details can be found using the website:
	www.mycommunityrights.org.uk
	Government is also enabling people to get involved with meaningful social action and volunteering. A great example is the National Citizen Service which gives 16 and 17-year-olds from all backgrounds the opportunity to work together, to take on new challenges and to make a difference in their communities.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of the housing benefit under-occupancy charge on (a) the future provision of housing and (b) homelessness in local authorities in England and Wales.

Mark Prisk: There are 249,000 overcrowded households in the social sector, while nearly 1.5 million under-occupy. The removal of the spare room subsidy should encourage more effective use of social housing by encouraging tenants to move to properties suitable for the size of their household, or taking in a lodger to occupy a spare bedroom. The Localism Act, and the introduction of ‘Homeswap Direct’, has made it easier for social tenants to move.
	The measure should also encourage social landlords to be more strategic in the allocation of property. It should also influence their building programmes, helping to ensure more appropriately sized accommodation for demand. The Government is providing significant finance for new affordable homes to support the future provision of housing.
	The Government's impact assessment for the removal of the spare room subsidy was published by DWP:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf
	This highlights that it is not possible to make robust assessments of the impacts for landlords and tenants as there is little research on the possible behavioural impacts of changing housing benefit in the social rented sector. However, DWP is commissioning external researchers to monitor and evaluate the impacts of the measure, to report in 2015.

Local Development Frameworks

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average cost to local authorities is of preparing a local development framework; and how many such applications have not been accepted in the last year.

Nicholas Boles: Data on costs is not centrally held. Councils' statutory planning functions are financed by central Government grant, locally retained revenues and planning fees. My Department follows the New Burdens doctrine when introducing duties on local authorities. We have also offered councils a range of practical assistance to help them prepare up to date Local Plans.
	In relation to the examination of councils' Local Plans, I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 25 February 2013, Official Report, House of Lords, column 256WA.